Study Says 9.7 Million U.S. Adults Need Blood Pressure Drugs Under 2025 Guidelines
Updated
Updated · health.yahoo.com · Aug 12
Study Says 9.7 Million U.S. Adults Need Blood Pressure Drugs Under 2025 Guidelines
3 articles · Updated · health.yahoo.com · Aug 12
Summary
9.7 million U.S. adults with untreated high blood pressure would newly qualify for medication under updated AHA/ACC guidance, according to a study using national survey data.
23 million adults without cardiovascular disease become newly eligible when doctors apply the AHA PREVENT tool, which adds blood sugar, kidney function and 10-year heart-risk measures to blood pressure.
200,900 all-cause deaths and 162,600 cardiovascular deaths could be prevented over 10 years if the 2025 guidelines were implemented; newly treated patients showed a 23% lower death risk and 50% lower heart-related death risk.
81 million adults overall would be eligible for blood pressure drugs under the updated framework, with researchers saying people with diabetes stand to benefit the most because combined risks rise sharply.
The findings also underscore a practical hurdle: about half of U.S. adults with high blood pressure do not regularly take prescribed medication, limiting the gains from broader treatment.